Soaking machine



Aug. 8, 1939. u J, E. JoHNsoN r-:r nu. 2,168,479v

-SOAKING MACHINE Original Filed May 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. s,1939. .L E. JQH'NSQN er u. 2,168,479

-soAKI'NG MACHINE original Filed may 24; 1935 4 sheets-sheet 2 Awzl/75E'. 05%

Heavy 17kg,

GWA/13a.

Aug. s, 1939; J., E. JOHNSON Ew. 2,168,479

SOAKING MACHINE Original Filed May 24, 1935A 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @ttm/Quad,

Aug. s, 1939. J. E. JQHNsaN am, 2,168,479 s'oAKING MACHINE OriginalFiled May 24; 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE SOAKING MACHINE Application May 24, 1935, Serial No.23,317 Renewed July 25, 1938 4 Claims. Y (Cl. (iS-62) This inventionrelates to soaking machines for dyeing, tinting and sizing yarn.Heretofore machines employed for this purpose have been large and costlyand for that reason have not been available to small mills. Furthermoresuch machines have required the use of large quantities of the treatmentfluid and after the uid has served its purpose there has been a largeamount left over which has been withdrawn to permit clean- 10 ing of themachine so that it might be made ready for .another quantity of liquid.Many times the liquid thus withdrawn has been wasted and where machinescan operate with only large amounts of liquids, this handling of thetreatment material 15 has presented a serious problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-containedunit of simple and eicient construction which can be sold at low costand will be economical in operation.

It is a further obj ect to provide a machine which will operate on avery small amount of treatment fluid which is maintained in constantcirculation so that a thorough mixing thereof is insured.

Another object is to provide a means for malntaining `a constantpredetermined temperature of the liquid, the circulating heated liquidbeing so directed upon supported skeins of yarn as to insure .thoroughuniform impregnation.

A further object is to support the skeins of yarn upon suitablycontrolled rollers whereby motion can be transmitted to the skeins asdesired during which time the treatment liquid will be directed againstthe skeins from within the space sursounded thereby 'so that thetreatment liquid will be sprayed outwardly onto the yarn and draineddownwardly therealong for subsequent accumulation and return to the yarnunder treatment.

`Another object is to provide a machine of this character the yarnsupporting portions of which 0 can be quickly and easily shiftedupwardly or downwardly for the purpose of facilitating the placing ofthe skeins or hanks in or removing them from position and for loweringthem into or lifting them from the tank provided for holding 45 thetreatment liquid.

`Another object is to provide means whereby the treatment material canbe so directed against the supported skeins or hanks as to avoid injuryto the most tender laments or bers.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, 55 it being understood that changes maybe made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the complete machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, the tank and a portion of the frame beingin section.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, the tanks and one of the skein supportingunits being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the spraypipes, its spraying core being shown partly in elevation and partly insection.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 Figure 5.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates asuitable frame supporting a tank 2 having a lining 3 formed preferablyof Monel metal or the like, this lining, in the present instance, beingformed with a partition 4 whereby two separate treatment compartments 5and 6 are provided. The bottoms of these compartments are spaced fromthe bottom of tank 2 so that a steam chamber 1 is thus formed beneaththe compartments and extends throughout the width and length thereof.Steam is adapted to be conducted to and from this chamber 'I throughsuitably located pipes 8. The bottoms of the compartments 5 and B areinclined downwardly to a low point as indicated at 9 and at this lowpoint in cach compartment 5 and 6 is an outflow pipe Ill leading to apump I I adapted to be actuated by an electric motor I2. Near one of theoutlets there is also provided a thermostat indicated generally at I3which can control any suitable means not shown, for the purpose ofregulating the flow of steam to the chamber 'I whereby the liquidcontents of the compartments 5 and 6 can be maintained at apredetermined temperature.

The frame I is provided with upstanding tubular posts III arranged inpairs, each post carrying a guide pulley I5 at its upper end. In each ofthese posts is a counterbalance I6 mounted to slide freely and a cableor other iexible element I1 is secured at one end to each counterbalanceand' extends upwardly over the adjacent pulley I5 and thence downwardlyto a carriage IB. The carriage includes upper and lower transverse axlesI9 and 20 each of which has wheels 2l on its ends adapted to travelalong the adjacent posts I4. The wheels on axle I9 are arranged totravel along mounted relative to the tube.

the back portions of the posts while the wheels on the axle 20 areadapted to travel along the front portions of the posts. It is to beunderstood of course that the two axles are suitably connected so as tobe maintained constantly in proper relation to each other, theconnection being preferably in the form of a casting 22 which extendsbetween the posts and also between the axles to which they are joined.

Journaled in the center portion of each casting 22 is a shaft 23 whichextends forwardly beyond the carriage and also a short distancerearwardly therefrom, this rearwardly extended portion carrying arelatively large worm gear 24 and a pair of sprockets 25 and 26.Additional shafts 21 and 28 are also journaled in the frame member ofcasting 22 and are extended forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, therearwardly extended portion of each of these shafts 21 and 28 beingprovided. with a sprocket 29. One of these sprockets receives motionthrough a chain 36 from sprocket 25 while the other sprocket 29 receivesmotion through another chain from the sprocket 26. As all of thesprockets are of the same size they will obviously rotate in the samedirection and at the same speed when motion is transmitted to any one ofthem.

A suitable guard 3| can be mounted on the carriage so as to extend overthe worm gear 24, the sprockets and the chains.

The posts of each pair are connected by a cross bar 32 which carries abracket 33 in which is located a worm 34 carried by a shaft 35. Thisshaft is provided with a pulley 36 designed to receive motion through abelt 31 from a pulley 38 on the shaft of an electric motor 39 which isalso supported by the bar 32. The worm is so located as to be engaged bygear 24 when the carriage I8 thereabove is brought to its lowermostposition. The two parts have been shown in mesh at the right of Figure 1and in Figure 4.

Shaft 23 carries a longitudinally corrugated arm 46 formed preferably ofporcelain and provided near its ends with heads or flanges 4|. Similararms 42 are carried by the shafts 21 and 28 and these arms are regularlyspaced, parallel, and in the same horizontal plane.

A forked pipe 43 is mounted on each carriage I8 and the arms 44 of thefork open into a transverse pipe or header 45 from which extend parallelspray pipes 46 one of which is located beneath and parallel with each ofthe arms 40 and 42. Each spray pipe is closed at its outer end, as by acap 41 and is provided near its top at opposite sides of its verticalcenter with longitudinal series of small outlet openings 48 throughwhich jets of fluid are adapted to be discharged in upwardly divergingseries.

In order that fluid admitted to each spray pipe may be discharged atpractically the same velocity from all ofthe apertures, an elongatedconical spreader 49 is supported within the tube with its point or apexextended toward the inlet end of the tube. This spreader isconcentrically Thus as the uid ows within the spraying tube or pipe 46the loss in volume as it approaches the closed or capped end of the tubewill be compensated for by the spreader 49.

Extending from each pump I I is an outflow pipe 5|] having a valve 5Ifor controlling the flow of fluid from the pump. At a point betweenvalve 5I and the pump II is arranged a drain pipe 52 having a valve 53which is normally closed.

A flexible pipe 54 extends from the outflow pipe to the forked pipe 43of the unit associated with said pump.

If desired, and as shown in diagram in Figure 4, each of the motors 39can be of the reversible type and provided with an automatic relayswitch shown generally at 55 whereby said motor can operate for apredetermined length of time in one direction and then automaticallyreverse so as to operate a predetermined time in the opposite direction.Reversing relay switches of this type are so common in the art that ithas not been deemed necessary to illustrate it in any manner other thanthat shown in Figure 4.

Bearings 56 are secured to each pair of posts near their lower ends andjournaled in the bearings is a rock shaft 51 having crank arms 58connected by links 59 to the bottom portion of carriage I8. Anothercrank arm 60 is extended from each rock shaft 51 and is joined by a link6I to a hand lever 62 carried by a short rock shaft 63 journaled in theframe I.

It is to be understood that the machine as described includes twoindependent units each with its carriage, its pump, its motors, and itsoperating mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage. The two unitsare combined with the respective compartments 5 and 6. Thus while oneunit is being employed for carrying out a treatment operation, the otherunit can be in position for loading, etc., or both units can be inoperation simultaneously. In the drawings one unit has been shownlowered while the other unit is in its uppermost position.

When it is desired to dye, size, tint or otherwise treat yarns which arearranged in skeins or hanks,

the treatment material is placed in that compartment of the tank to beused. The amount placed in the compartment need merely be suffcient toprime the pump, ll the pipes up to the spray nozzles or tubes, and leavea small amount of the uid on the bottom of the compartment.

Steam within chamber 1 will maintain the fluid at a desired temperatureand by operating the pump the fluid will be forced in upwardly divergingseries of jets from the spray tubes 46, gravitate to the compartmentthereunder and return to the pump.

Before the Huid is set in circulation the carriage to receive the skeinsis elevated by swinging lever 62 of that particular unit forwardly. Thatwill cause the arms 58 to swing upwardly and thrust through links 59against the carriage until the carriage is brought to its uppermostposition at which time the arms 58 and links 59 will be approximately ona dead center so that the carriage cannot be lowered until the lever 62is forcibly moved back to its former position. While the carriage isthus elevated the skeins or hanks to be treated are suspended from thearms 40 and 42 so as to extend around the spray tubes or pipes 46. Thecarriage is then lowered so as to position the lower portions of theskeins within the compartment 5 or 6 thereunder and while they are thuslocated the motor I2 is operated so as to drive pump II and set up acirculation of liquid. Consequently the liquid will be delivered inupwardly diverging series of small jets which will come against theinner sides of the hanks or skeins close to the supporting arms. Theforce with which the liquid will strike these skeins can be regulated byvalve 5I.

It will be understood that the jets of liquid after coming against theyarn will be sprayed between the strands and will then flow downwardlytherealong and finally through the skeins at the bottom where surplusliquid will be co1- lected in the tank and again Withdrawn by the pump.It is desirable to supply the treatment liquid to the skeins before thearms 40 and 42 are rotated in order that the skeins may becomethoroughly wetted and thus avoid any tendency to slip and tear or breakon the arms.

-After a predetermined interval has been devoted to the initial wettingof the skeins or hanks.

the motor 39 is actuated and as thev worm gear 24 moved into mesh withworm 34 when the carriage was lowered, this motor, when started, willcause shaft 23 and its arm 40 to rotate in one direction at apredetermined speed while at the same time the sprockets and chains willdrive the other arms 42 in the same direction and at the same speed.

Attention is called to the fact that when the carriage is in itslowermost position as shown for example in Figure 4, the links 59 andarms 5B are sufliciently near a dead center to lock the carriage in itslower position unless shifted by lever 62. Thus positive meshing of thegear 24 and worm 34 is insured. As the arms rotate the skeins or hankswill be moved thereby and as the treatment liquid is at the same timebeing sprayed upwardly and outwardly against the inner sides of theseskeins or hanks, they will soon become thoroughly dyed, sized or tinted,according to the treatment being given. This is particularly true if themotor 39 is designed to automatically reverse after predeterminedintervals.

By directing the jets of liquid upwardly along diverging lines they actto spray the yarn close to the arms and also tend to thrust the yarnaway from the rotating arms, thereby to offset any tendency to stick tothe arms and wrap around them.

The iiuid which is not absorbed by the yarn will ow downwardly along theskein and will seep through the lowest portion of the skein. Thus as theskein is in motion the saturation or soaking will become effectedquickly and thoroughly. This method of applying the treatment fluid tothe skein from the inside is of great importance.

While the skeins supported by one unit are beingv treated as described,previously treated skeins can` be removed from the arms of the otherunit and untreated skeins placed in position so that the second unit canthen be lowered to permit treatment as heretofore described. Thus withthe two units a substantially continuous treating operation can becarried on.

In view of the small amount of liquid necessary in this machine, thelosses due to waste are reduced to the minimum and because of thefurther fact that the machine is compact and can be sold at low cost, itis particularly useful in small mills the outputs of which do notjustify the installation of machines commonly employed.

Any small amount of liquid remaining in the compartments after thedesired treatments have been completed can be removed readily throughthe pipes 52 and stored in small containers for future use if desired.

As the tanks are lined with Monel metal or the like they will notcorrode o-r otherwise deteriorate and can be cleaned easily and quickly.As there is no large amount of liquid lying dormant at any time withinthe compartments Si and practically all of the liquid is maintainedconstantly in a state oi agitation so that it will be kept well mixedwhile in use.

What is claimed is:

l. A soaking machine including a compartment for holding a treatmentfluid, a carriage mounted adjacent to the compartment, an arm on thecarriage for supporting in the compartment a movable skein of materialto be treated, a spraying element xed on the carriage and beneath thearm, said element being positioned to be surrounded by the supportedskein, said element having means for directing jets upwardly alongdiverging lines toward opposed portions of the skein to free portions ofthe skein from its supporting arm, and means for directing a treatmentuid from said compartment to the spraying element.

2. A soaking machine including a carriage, a tank, means for raising andlowering the carriage relative to the tank, a skein supporting arm onthe carriage, a spraying element xed on the carriage below and separatefrom the arm and positioned to be surrounded by a supported skein, andmeans operating independently of the posi tion of the carriage fordirecting a treatment uid into the spraying element, said sprayingelement having outlets for directing treatment material upwardly indiverging series of jets against opposed portions of the surroundingskein to press them from the supporting arm, a driving element, andmeans controlled bythe movement of the carriage to its lowest positionfor operatively connecting the driving element to the arm on thecarriage.

3. A soaking machine including a compartment for holding a treatmentiiuid, means adjacent to the compartment for supporting in thecompartment a movable skein of material to be treated, a sprayingelement carried by said means and extending thereunder, said elementbeing positioned to be surrounded by the supported skein, said elementhaving means for directing jets upwardly along diverging lines towardopposed portions of the skein to free portions of the skein from thesupporting means, and means for directing a treatment iluid from saidcompartment to the spraying means.

4. A soaking machine including a tank, a skeinsupporting arm, means forraising and lowering the arm relative to the tank, a sprayingelementaiiiXed relative to and located below and separate from the arm, saidelement being positioned to be surrounded by a supported skein, andmeans for directing a treatment iluid into the spraying element, saidspraying element having outlets for directing treatment materialupwardly in diverging series of jets against opposed portionssurrounding the skein to press them from the supporting arm, and meansfor rotating the arm.

JOHN EDWIN JOHNSON. HENRY FREY.

